Aspen, CO: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 58/100
2 ZIP codes · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Aspen: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Compliance figures for Aspen indicate average water quality in CO overall - some service areas have recorded health-based violations in recent monitoring cycles, while others operate cleanly, making system-level data the most actionable reference point for residents.
How Aspen Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Aspen Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 17 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0011 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 25% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,900 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.09.
Aspen's Water Providers
Aspen, CO is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 3 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Aspen, Colorado (population ~9,282), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 37,969 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 2 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Aspen: C (58/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Aspen water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0011 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 2 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 8 | 1 |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81611 | C | 17 | 1 | City of Aspen |
All ZIP Codes in Aspen
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Aspen Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
What's in Aspen's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Aspen Infrastructure Age
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Lead solder was federally prohibited in new plumbing in 1986. In Aspen, the median build year of 1988 puts a majority of homes in the lower-risk category for that specific contamination pathway - though the pre-1986 share shown above still carries real exposure potential at the individual household level.
Most homes in Aspen were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Aspen
In Aspen, the equity impact of remediation is proportionally small - not the kind of financial commitment that rises to the level of a genuine planning constraint, but a minor share of what most properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Aspen are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,000–$2,950 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 175% above the Colorado average.
Aspen: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Older homes from the pre-rule era make up 25% of Aspen's inventory, a contained slice. Citywide aggregate readings stay below 0.015 mg/L under EPA Lead and Copper Rule monitoring, suggesting systemic lead is not a dominant local concern. What the aggregate cannot do is reflect conditions inside any single building, where interior plumbing age, water chemistry, and stagnation patterns interact differently than they do across thousands of service connections combined into one figure.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Aspen: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Aspen contains 11 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $38,973. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$1,900</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Aspen
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Stage 1 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Aspen's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Aspen, CO